Automatic sprinkler alarm and indicator.



F. W. MILLIKEm.

AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER ALARM AND INDIGATORA APPLICATION FILED JULY 8,1909.

Patented Nov. 29, 1910.

WITNEEEEi UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK W. MILLIKEN, OF AUBURN, MAINE. ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO CHENEY C. BROWN. 0F AUBURN. MAINE.

AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER ALARM AND INDICATOR.

Application filed July 8, 1909. Serial No. 506\512.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 29, 1910.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK IV. MILLIKEN. a citizen of the United States, residing at Auburn. in the county of Androscoggin and State of Maine, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automatic Sprinkler Alarms and Indicators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in automatic sprinkler alarm and indicator systems and is especially designed in case of fire to give an alarm and to indicate at the same time the floor or compartment in the building in which the fire is located, the alarm and indicator being located at some convenient oint.

It is designed to be readily connected with any automatic sprinkler system and may be used in case of any liquid under pressure. I have shown it adapted to be used with a water sprinkler system but it will be obvious that any liquid can be substituted for water.

In the drawings herewith accompanying and making part of this application, Figure l is a view partly in section of my invention showing, however, only one circuit closing device, and Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view showing a modified pressure equalizing device. It will be understood. of course, that there may i as many of these circuit closing devices distributed throughout the building as may be found desirable. It will also be understood that these circuit closing devices a re to be connected with each of a plurality of branch pipes forming a s )rinkling system leading out of a main supp y pipe.

In said drawings A is a branch pipe of a sprinkler system leading from a main A. In pipe A is a valve seat 13 adapted to be closed by a gravity valve Leading from the valve seat at a point adapted to be closed by the valve when seated is a conduit. D terminatin in an open end E above a suitable receptac ie F. The receptacle F is contained in a suit-able inclosing case G and is supported on a rod H which extends up through the case G without friction and terminates in a rack I adapted to mesh with a pinion J.

through wires V. battery N, alarm bell O and annunciator P. The bottom of the receptacle F is provided with a vent Q the size of which may be regulated in any convenient manner as by a flat slide R pivotally attached to the bottom of the receptacle and adapted to be moved over the vent- Q. The flow of liquid through conduit 1) can be shut off or regulated by a valve S positioned at any convenient point in the conduit. The circuit closing apparatus is designed to be entirely inclosed in a suitable housing as X.

To prevent water hammer and to equalize pressure on either side of the valve C I provide valve C with a small opening Z or I may provide the pipe A with a by-pass Y in which is set a check valve Y whereby excessive pressure beyond the valve C is equalized by passing back through the by-pass toward the main.

The operation of my improved device is as follows. The pressure of the liquid in the system being under normal conditions the same on both sides of valve C, the valve re mains seated until such time as the balance is disturbed by the escape of water at any point in the system. As soon as the balance is disturbed for any cause the valve Crises and the liquid escapes through the conduit D into the receptacle F. Assoon as suiiicient liquid is collected in the receptacle F to cause it to overbalance the weighted arm K, the receptacle descends -ausing rack I to rotate pinion J lifting contact L into engagement with contact M completing the circuit, ringing the bell and announcing the particular compartment where the fire or leak occurs.

It will be understood that the operation of one circuit closing device has no effect on other circuit closing devices of the system although connected with the same main, the valve and circuit closing device being attached to separate branch pipes leading from the main to the several compartments, only one of which, however, is shown. The relation which the vent Q in the bottom of the receptacle F bears to the flow of the liquid throu'gh the conduit D will fix the time required for the weight of the liquid in the receptacle E to increase to the point of overbalancing the weighted arm K to give the alarm. Atthe same time the liquid flows slowly out of the receptacle F and ofl through waste pipe T in the bottom of the housing so that when the flow of water through conduit D ceases the contact is antomatically broken as soon as sufiicient water flows out of the receptacle to cause the weighted arm to overbalance it.

Having thus described my invention and its use I claim 1. in an automatic sprinkler alarm and indicator system, a water main, a branch pipe leading therefrom, a valve seat and valve located in said branch pipe, a counter balanced receptacle, an open conduit leading from said branch pipe to said receptacle and adapted to be normally closed by said valve when seated and to discharge into said receptacle when said valve is open, an electric circuit a alarm mechanism and means operable by movement of said receptacle to make and break said circuit and operate said alarm said receptacle being provided with an opening in the bottom of less capacity than said conduit.

2. In an automatic sprinkler alarm and indicator system, a water main, a branch pipe leading: therefrom, a valve seat and valve located in said branch pipe, a counterbalanced receptacle, an open circuit leading from said branch pipe to said receptacle and adapted to be normally closed by said valve when seated and'to discharge into said receptacle when the valve is open, a rack connected with'and operable by said receptacle, two contacts one stationary and the other movable into contact therewith, a pinion in engagement with said rack and adapted to operate said movable contact, a weight adapted normally to hold said contacts out of engagement, and an electric circuit comprising a battery, signal, annunciator and suitable wiring.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name tov this specification in presence of two subscribing witnesses this twenty-ninth day of May, 1909.

FRANK W. MILLIKEN.

In presence of- ELoIN C. VEHRILL, MARION RICHARDS. 

